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Board moves regular meeting start time to 5 p.m.; one trustee abstains
Summary
Trustees voted to shift regular board meetings to a 5:00 p.m. start beginning at the next meeting to reduce late‑night decisions; the motion passed with one abstention from Leslie.
The Missoula County Public Schools board voted to change the start time of regular board meetings to 5:00 p.m., beginning with the next meeting, after trustees discussed late‑night meeting lengths and impacts on members and staff.
Trustee Meg raised concerns that meetings frequently extend past 9:00 p.m., and proposed an earlier start to reduce the burden on trustees, staff and community members who work full time. Trustee Witcher and others discussed possible impacts to public comment access and suggested options such as rotating meeting times and allowing virtual public comment.
Trustee Missouri moved to change the start time to 5:00 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Trustee Walsh. The motion passed with one abstention recorded by Leslie. Trustees directed staff to adjust the agenda order so that some routine reports precede public comment to accommodate members of the public arriving after work hours.
Board leadership and staff said they will announce the new start time for the next regular meeting and will consider ways to preserve access for working community members.
